Portable computer with projecting function

ABSTRACT

A portable computer with a projecting function includes a main body, a display module, a pivot, and a projection module. The display module is connected to the main body via the pivot and capable of rotating relative to the main body. The projection module is disposed on the pivot for projecting the information of the main body. The portable computer is, for example, a laptop computer, or a tablet computer.

This application is a continuation application of co-pending applicationSer. No. 12/407,127, filed on Mar. 19, 2009, which claims the benefit ofTaiwan application Serial No. 97118490, filed May 20, 2008. Theserelated applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a portable computer and, more particularly, toa portable computer with a projecting function.

2. Description of the Related Art

The popularity of desktop or portable computers enables users to enjoythe convenience from computers no matter they are at home, work, oroutside. The computer not only provides many functions such asprocessing documents, accessing the Internet, drawing, and audio andvideo entertainment, but also can be used with other electronic devices.

When used in a business or academic field, a portable computer is oftenused with a projecting device for enlarging information to enable theattendants to get the content of the information synchronously at aconference or a lecture. However, many transmission cables need to beused to connect a computer to a projecting device. For example, thecable is used between the computer and the projecting device, and thecable is used between the projecting device and the power supply. Thisresults in inconvenient operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a portable computer with a projecting function.The potable computer includes a main body, a display module, a pivot,and a projection module. The display module is connected to the mainbody via the pivot and capable of rotating relative to the main body.The projection module is disposed on the pivot for projecting theinformation of the main body.

The invention provides another portable computer with a projectingfunction. The potable computer includes a main body, a display module, apivot, and a projection module. The display module is connected to themain body via the pivot and capable of rotating relative to the mainbody, and it includes a display surface and a marginal surface adjacentto the display surface. The projection module, for projecting theinformation of the main body, is disposed on the marginal surface of thedisplay module.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a portable computer with aprojecting function according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the display module in FIG. 1 witha rotation angle more than 180 degrees;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a projection module disposed inthe display module; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the projection module in FIG. 3 inoperation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a portable computer with aprojecting function according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The portable computer 10 includes a main body 110, a displaymodule 120, a projection module 130, and a pivot 140, wherein the systemof the portable computer 10 is installed in the main body 110. Thedisplay module 120 is connected with the main body 110 via the pivot 140and may rotate relative to the main body 110. The projection module 130is provided for projecting the information on a display surface 122.

The portable computer 10 in the embodiment may be a laptop computer or atablet computer, while the display module 120 may be a liquid crystaldisplay module. In addition, an inputting device (not shown) may bedisposed on the main body 110 and between the main body 110 and thedisplay module 120, and it may be a keyboard or a touch panel for usersto operate the portable computer 10.

The pivot 140 may be, for example, a multi section fixing pivot to fixthe display module 120 at different angles after the display module 120rotates relative to the main body 110, and it can bear the weight of theportable computer 10 at other configuration states.

Preferably, the projection module 130 corresponds to the rotating axis142 of the pivot 140. The projection module 130 includes a projectionlens 132 located on the extension direction of rotating axis 142 of thepivot 140, and the projection lens 132 may be disposed, for example,flush with the marginal surface 124 of the display module 120 to keepthe integrity of the device. In the embodiment, the projection module130 may be a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) projection module or adigital light processing (DLP) projection module.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 110 and the display module 120 are setwith anti-skid members 112 and 126 on their outside margins,respectively. The anti-skid member 112 and 126 are provided forpreventing the portable computer 10 from skidding when the portablecomputer 10 is disposed horizontally or vertically. The anti-skidmembers 112 and 126 completely cover the margins of the main body 110and the display module 120 respectively or only cover part of the sidesurfaces. The anti-skid members 112 and 126 are made from anti-skidmaterial such as plastics, rubber, or leather, or a patterned grain maybe made at the marginal surface of the device body 110 and the displaymodule 120 to increase the friction force between the main body 110 orthe display module 120 and other members to ensure the portable computer10 stable at different configuration states.

After the display module 120 rotate an angle relative to the main body110, the display module 120 and the main body 110 may be disposed toform an inverted V-shape structure, and therefore the portable computer10 stands vertically to allow users to use the projection module 130 onthe pivot 140 conveniently. When the rotating angle of the displaymodule 120 is less than 180 degrees, the display surface 122 of thedisplay module 120 is disposed inwards. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2,when the rotating angle of the display module 120 is larger than 180degrees, the display surface 122 of the display module 120 is disposedoutwards. During projecting, the projection module 130 faces a screen(not shown), and it projects the information on the display surface 122to the screen. Since the display surface 122 is disposed outwards, userscan directly watch the information on the display surface 122 besidesthe screen when operating the portable computer 10.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a projection module disposed inthe display module; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the projectionmodule in FIG. 3 in operation. As shown in FIG. 3, the projection module130′ directly disposed in the display module 120 may be, for example, amovable device to be movably disposed on the marginal surface 124 of thedisplay module 120. When the projection module 130′ needs to beoperated, it may be moved out of or ejected from the marginal surface124 of the display module 120. As shown in FIG. 4, a projection lens132′ of the projection module 130′ is disposed outwards to face thescreen.

According to the embodiments of the invention, a portable computer witha projecting function includes a built-in projection module and has aprojection or power point function directly without an externalprojecting device. Therefore, the conventional problem of needing manyconnecting transmission cables is settled. The projection module isdisposed along the edge of the display module, or preferably disposed onthe pivot between the display module and the main body. Via the pivotbetween the display module and the main body, the display module and themain body can form an inverted V-shape structure to enable the displaysurface of the display module to be set inwards or outwards. Inaddition, anti-skid members may be disposed on the external marginalsurface of the portable computer to increase the friction force betweenthe portable computer and other members to ensure the portable computerstable at different configuration states, and they are made of anti-skidmaterial such as plastics, rubber, or leather etc., and may be apatterned grain.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosureis not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinaryskill in the art may make various modifications and changes withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, thescope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description ofthe preferred embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable computer with a projecting function,comprising: a main body storing information; a display moduleelectrically connected to the main body, wherein the display moduleincludes a display surface and a marginal surface which are near eachother; and a projection module, electrically connected with the mainbody and disposed on the marginal surface of the display module, whereinthe information is outputted from the main body to the projection moduleand projected by the projection module.
 2. The portable computeraccording to claim 1, wherein the portable computer is a laptop computeror a tablet computer.
 3. The portable computer according to claim 1,wherein the projection module is a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS)projection module or a digital light processing projection module. 4.The portable computer according to claim 3, wherein the projectionmodule comprises a projection lens located at one end of the projectionmodule and the projection lens is movably ejected from the marginalsurface of the display module for projecting the information.
 5. Theportable computer according to claim 1, wherein the projection module ismoved out or ejected from the marginal surface of the display module.